Notes and Editorial Reviews

This affectionate tribute to the splendid artistry of Maurice Gendron offers gems from the Philips back-catalogue which no cello devotee can afford to miss.

This affectionate tribute to the splendid artistry of the ‘other’ great French cellist of the century, Maurice Gendron, offers gems from the Philips back-catalogue which no cello devotee can afford to miss. Gendron’s impeccable Schubert and Beethoven performances originally appeared in 1967, and have represented a benchmark of quality ever since. His reading of the Debussy Sonata, recorded in 1964 alongside works by Fauré, Françaix and Messiaen fills the second CD, the third offering a generous selection of shorter recital and encore pieces. Gendron’sRead more courteous, refined and scrupulous playing is heard in digitally revitalised sound; a reissue of rare significance.

Performance: 5 (out of 5), Sound: 5 (out of 5)

-- Michael Jameson, BBC Music Magazine

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The performances of the Variations by Maurice Gendron and Jean Francaix have an engagingly light touch...

-- The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs & DVDsreviewing the Beethoven variations, previously reissued as part of Philips 442565

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Gendron and Francaix show how inflection, nuance, tonal variety and cogency bring rewards far outstripping the mere superficialities of the moment. There is such expressive propriety to their playing. In the pizzicato episode of the Serenade’s opening everything is at the service of the music and the gradations of tone in the subsequent development are of sovereign subtlety. And such wit – real wit, not supposed Gallic "wit" – in the slides and phrase endings, such triumphant understanding of the work’s architecture and meaning, such involved nonchalance. In the finale their sense of anticipation and release is second to none. There is never any vulgar overemphasis in tempo relation. Gendron’s tone colours here are infinitely attractive and subtle and the whole performance a triumph of selfless musicality.

-- Jonathan Woolf, MusicWeb Internationalreviewing the Debussy Cello Sonata, reissued as part of Eloquence 468306Read less